Vienna/Washington/Tehran, June 30 (V7N) — The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said on Sunday that while recent U.S. airstrikes caused significant damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the damage was not total — and the program could be restored within a matter of months.

The comments came amid conflicting assessments of the strikes’ impact, which targeted key components of Iran's nuclear development sites.

Speaking at a press briefing, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated, “Yes, the program was hit hard. But it did not suffer total destruction. Iran retains the capacity to restore its operations — and that could happen within months if they choose to prioritize it.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a far more dramatic interpretation of the attack’s outcome during an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures.

"It's just thousands of tons of rock in that room right now. The whole place was destroyed," Trump claimed, referring to Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site.

However, reports emerging from both U.S. intelligence and Iranian sources suggest a more nuanced reality. According to The Washington Post, U.S. agencies intercepted communications among senior Iranian officials, indicating the strike was “less devastating than expected.” The report cites four individuals familiar with classified intelligence currently circulating within the U.S. government.

Iranian state-affiliated newspaper The Tehran Times also reported that “the core of Iran’s nuclear program remains operational,” though it did not provide technical details or specific evidence to support the claim.

The diverging narratives underscore the lack of clarity surrounding the true extent of the damage and raise questions about the long-term impact of military strikes on Iran’s nuclear capabilities — an issue of global concern amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

While the U.S. administration continues to defend the operation as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, analysts caution that unless diplomatic efforts are revived, Tehran may use the attack as further justification to accelerate its nuclear pursuits.

The IAEA has yet to confirm whether its inspectors will be granted access to reassess the site. A full evaluation will likely be critical in determining the strategic effectiveness of the strikes.

END/WD/AJ/